Hey, remember when that Canadian dentist bought the tooth of John Lennon at auction for a stupid amount of money back in 2011? Turns out the dude is a bit of a crackpot (surprise!), today announcing his plans to make a clone of the Imagine singer from the rotten specimen.
Albertan Michael Zuk told Examiner all about his plans to get all Dr John Hammond on the late Beatle:
“I am nervous and excited at the possibility that we will be able to fully sequence John Lennon’s DNA, very soon I hope. With researchers working on ways to clone mammoths, the same technology certainly could make human cloning a reality. Many Beatles fans remember where they were when they heard John Lennon was shot. I hope they also live to hear the day he was given another chance.”
Dr Zuk bought the tooth for $30,000 in the UK and has since toured it around Great Britain to promote awareness of oral cancer, participated in a documentary on celebrity DNA, sold a line of John Lennon’s tooth pendants and wrote a book about buying the tooth.
He’s now sent the specimen to American scientists to look for genetic codes that may help clone Lennon, saying, ”To potentially say I had a small part in bringing back one of Rock’s greatest stars would be mind-blowing.”
Ain’t that the tooth.
(via Tone Deaf)
Gallery: 14 Music Memorabilia Items People Actually Paid Money For
14 Music Memorabilia Items People Actually Paid Money For
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MickJagger2
A 50-year-old lock of Mick Jagger's hair sold for £4,000 at auction, more than 4 times that of Keith Richards. -
George Harrison
George Harrison's half-finished toast sold for $2,200, despite Harrison refusing to authenticate the item, saying he always finished his toast. -
Justintimberlake1
A 19-year-old fan bought Justin Timberlake's half-finished breakfast in 2006, saying she planned to freeze dry it and keep it on her dresser. No word on what condition it's in today. -
Paul Mccartney
A collector purchased the front door of Paul McCartney's childhood home for £5,000 earlier this year. -
William Shatner
OK, we know William Shatner's musical career has been humourous at best but this is truly the weirdest - he sold his kidney stone to an online casino for $25,000 to raise money for charity. HIS KIDNEY STONE. $25,000. Yeah. -
John Lennon Tooth2142430i
A rotten tooth John Lennon had removed in the '60s was sold to a Canadian dentist for £19,500 in 2011. It has since been turned into 3 necklaces. -
Cher Bra
Cher put her own bra up for auction in 2007. It was bought for an undisclosed amount by the Hard Rock Hotel and is on display in their Las Vegas hotel and casino. -
JamesBlunt Bus Home
James Blunt' put his sister on eBay when she was unable to get to a funeral in Ireland. The winning bidder owned a helicopter and ended up marrying Blunt's sister. -
Britney Spears 638x425
Someone picked up Britney's Spears' used gum in 2004 and put it on eBay. It sold for $14,000. -
Jerry Garcia 69346-7
Jerry Garcia's toilet was sold to the same online casino for $2,550 but was stolen before it could be delivered. There's a $250 reward for its return. -
152169914LL018_Lady_Gaga_Fa
Lady Gaga lost a fake fingernail backstage at a gig. A member of her stage crew found it, put it up for auction and sold the talon for a whopping $12,000. -
Madonna
Madonna's ex-boyfriend James Albright sold answering machine messages from the singer, in which she referred to herself as 'Lil Booty'. Bidding on the tapes started at $25,000. -
14 Music Memorabilia Items People Actually Paid Money For #13
Bryan Adams left his dirty Armani socks in the back of a cab whilst getting changed in 2004 after a show, so the cab company sold them, fetching $750. -
Elvis Presley Aquarium
Three teaspoons of water that reportedly touched Elvis at a 1977 concert went for $455 at auction.
